US Leaf customers get free recharging

Well, here’s an interesting argument towards buying a Nissan Leaf – you get zero charging costs – a deal that was until now reserved to customers of the luxury Tesla Model S.

While prices are still high and the range anxiety has not been thoroughly addressed, there are reasons to buy an electric car today. Having an electric car – besides saving the planet – also lowers much of the costs associated with refilling the car’s “tank” – electricity is still much cheaper than gasoline or diesel. Now, Nissan, through its new “No Charge to Charge” program, offers an even better deal.

“Free charging is a great way for Nissan and our charging partners to make Leaf an unbeatable value for the average American driver,” said Brendan Jones, director, Nissan Electric Vehicle Sales and Infrastructure. “The popularity of ‘No Charge to Charge’ since our April announcement shows that public charging spurs range confidence and additional Leaf sales.”

Unlike Tesla’s own Supercharging network, which offers free life-time recharges with the purchase of its Model S luxury sedan, Nissan’s promo is rather limited – it stretches only two years and involves select US markets in San Francisco, Sacramento, San Diego, Seattle, Nashville, Phoenix, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Houston, Portland, Oregon, and Washington, D.C. Fortunately, the Japanese automaker aims to extend the availability of the offer to another 15 venues and 500 Nissan-owned quick charging stations in 2015.